LIONS TOUR

[Randy Cornhole]

Am can't be the only one licking my lips at the prospect of the up comming Lions Tour of New Zealand in june.
Just read that Jonny Wilkinson is fit and has been picked by Sir Clive (praise the lord) the team line up looks really good but the task ahead is a big one as New Zealand is a rugby mecca, they live and breath the game.
now just have to find a good bar that will show all the games and hopefully a goodly ammount of fans.
'COME ON YOU LIONS'

By the way just heard that Harlequins have been relegated to division one!!!!!!
Not to bothered as I am a sarries fan but what a blow to the club and their supporters

[Jaime]

Living and breathing the game is no guarantee of success - just look at Wales' record for the last 15 years! Obviously this year was different..... ....

Which brings me back to Wilko - his selection completely changes the whole complexion of the squad and potential test team don't you think?

[Randy Cornhole]

Having Wilko back is just what the doctor ordered. No one comes close to him for kicking, he is also a very good tackler.
England have struggled to match him - Hodgson is not consistant neither is Gommershall or Dawson. However to match Wilkingson is no mean feat. I just hope he still has the magic
Now where to watch the drama unfold?

[Jaime]

I just hope he still has the magic

World's best kicker - yes
World's best tackling no. 10 - yes, when fit
Tactical kicking - great accuracy and distance when kicking out of hand
'Magic' - debatable! Shane Williams/Jason Robinson he ain't!

The question I was asking really was that given the first three points above, do you think that building the team around Wilko will make the test selection and style of play more conservative and more forward orientated?

[ianjames]

At the moment,he's only a back-up.
Stephen Jones should be ,and will be,the starting No.10.
Don't even think about putting him in the centres,the Lions have real strength at 12 and 13.
But having said that ,it would crazy not to take him.A Lions team,or any other team,sorts itself out after injuries ,etc.
Anyway,enough of the union,when are they going to put some rugby league on TV ?????

[Jaime]

OK, cards on the table time! Here is my starting Lions 15:

1. Gethin Jenkins - Wales (In form prop in tight and loose)
2. Gordon Bulloch - Scotland (Edges out Byrne with his pugnacious style for our weakest position)
3. Julian White - England (Hard to shift man-mountain)
4. Danny Grewcock - England (If he doesn't get banned in a provincial game!)
5. Malcolm O'Kelly - Ireland (Deserves it but will need to raise his game from the 6 nations)
6. Richard Hill - England (Hard man needed in Johnson's absence)
7. Martyn Williams - Wales (Has eclipsed Back this season)
8. Lawrence Dallaglio - England (Another hard man needed in Jonson's absence)

9. Dwayne Peel - Wales (No-one else close this season)
10. Steven Jones - Wales (Has been in the best form of his career since going to France & I can't believe Wilko will be match fit/in form enough)

12. Gavin Henson - Wales (A mercurial risk but sneaks in with lots of competition for this position)
13. Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland (As captain will be first name on the team sheet unless he does a Ciaran Fitzgerald impersonation!)

11. Josh Lewsey - England (Closet Taff who will at last feel he's made it into a red jersey!)
14. Gareth Thomas - Wales (Mr. Dependable with Rorkes Drift mentality)
15. Jason Robinson - England (Quiet this season for England but will hopefully explode for the Lions - everyone knows what he can do)

These last three could be swapped around in any formation - dynamite!

So there it is; 6 Welshmen, 6 Englishmen (including Lewsey ), 2 Irishmen and 1 Scot. So wadaya reckon fellas?

[Robby NZ]

no posts since the aggy game wonder why?

[Robby NZ]

no posts since the argy game wonder why?

[tuktukmike]

Forget about the number of posts,

The worrying thing is sending all those Welshmen to New Zealand?????

Mike.

[Jaime]

no posts since the argy game wonder why?

This thread ground to a halt long before the Argentina game - but now you have resurrected it, yes the front 5 got a pasting till Julian White & Steve Thompson came on. Only a few players who will get near the test side in this outing though - a draw between Argentina's second team and the Lions' also rans. The Lions will ultimately gel, even if there are too many underperforming/unestablished Englishmen in the squad - the Lions used yet again as another development tour for fringe England squad players! Over to you TTM - lets have your line up! You knew I wouldn't let this one go !

[Robby NZ]

Wilkinson and all those who stand around watching him kick goals arrived the other day, saw them on the TV news. Their supportors were there to meet them, they intervied both of them, sounded Welsh.

Suspect the problems they had with the argies have been fixed, hear they have added a couple more managers to the squad but will see after the first game.

[ianjames]

Series prediction:-
NZ 3 Lions 0
All Blacks only need to achieve parity in the forwards
then the backs will take care of the rest.Too many
game breakers.

[Jaime]

Ian,

Are you quoting Laurie Mains or John Mitchell? - It's almost word perfect!

Come on The Lions!!! - I'm starting to get excited now.....

[Randy Cornhole]

Aparrently the line up for the first game (bay of plenty) contains not one of the players used in the Argie game....Sir clive is mixing the boys up.
Bought a brillient shirt the other day. Its half all Black half Lions and is made from a climate control substance so is not too hot!
My ring is twitching now....COME ON YOU LIONS....

[ianjames]

I got it wrong ...I said it would be 3-0 to NZ in the tests.Apparantly the game against NZ Maori (Who deserved the win) was the unofficial 4th. test......So it'll end up 4-0 NZ.